The Mets are calling up left-handed prospect Zach Thornton to make his debut Wednesday against the Nationals, Carlos Mendoza said Monday.
Thornton, 24, struck out nine over six scoreless innings in his most recent start at Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. He was MMO’s No. 16 Mets prospect before the season, and is No. 13 on MLB Pipeline’s Mets Prospects List. Mendoza said a decision hasn’t been made yet on whether Thornton will start or be used in bulk relief.
“He earned it,” the manager told SNY. “The way he’s been throwing the ball, especially at the Triple-A level. We like a lefty against this lineup, his ability to throw strikes, his pitchability. So there were a lot of names. Jonah (Tong) was one of them, obviously. But, at the end, we decided to go with Zach.”
Thornton has made two starts at Syracuse and five for Double-A Binghamton this season. At the two levels combined, his ERA was 3.16, his WHIP was 1.19, and he struck out 40 in 37 innings.
Mendoza said there is no guarantee that Thornton will stick with the team beyond Wednesday; it is “one outing at a time,” and the Mets will see how his debut goes and take it from there. Jack Wenninger was also considered for the call up. A spot is open because of the injury to Clay Holmes.
Last season, Thornton was sensational at High-A Brooklyn (one earned run in 20 2/3 innings) and pitched to a 2.60 ERA in 10 starts for Binghamton. He was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.
